Project description
Promoting archaeogenomic partnerships in Turkey
An international scientific collective has been established to promote archaeogenomics and evolutionary biology research in Turkey. The goal of the EU-funded NEOMATRIX project is to establish the Ancient DNA Lab (MEAD) at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Turkey, as a centre of excellence through partnerships with the first ancient DNA centre in Greece at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), the Stockholm University’s Centre for Palaeogenetics, and the Palaeogenomics Lab at Institut Jacques Monod of the University of Paris and CNRS. Cross-lab visits, workshops and courses will provide further training for early-stage researchers, and communication activities will be organised to attract new researchers to the field. The common theme is the investigation of Neolithic expansion across the Mediterranean 8 millennia ago, which connected Anatolia with Europe.
Objective
NEOMATRIX is aimed to set the Middle East Technical University (METU) Ancient DNA Lab (MEAD) in Ankara, Turkey, as a centre of excellence in European science.
This will be achieved through MEAD partnering with three major archaeogenomics teams with complementary qualities, and addressing unique challenges MEAD has been facing in scientific production, such as its relative isolation and difficulties in attracting skilled ESRs.
The partners include (a) the first ancient DNA center in Greece at the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), with strong expertise in population genomics and isotope analyses, (b) Stockholm Universitys (SU) Center for Palaeogenetics, a leading ancient genomics center, and (c) the Paleogenomics Lab at the Institute Jacques Monod at CNRS, with deep expertise in animal and human ancient DNA research, especially in the analysis of poorly preserved samples.
The activities involve training through research-oriented cross-lab visits, workshops focused on method development, short courses to attract young scientists at MEAD, and well-designed communication activities including exhibitions. All activities will be built upon, and stimulated by, a joint research project where all teams will collaborate to tackle a challenging problem: the Neolithic expansion across the Mediterranean about 8 millennia ago that connected Anatolia with the west.
This is a long-standing problem in prehistory that will be analysed employing novel wet and dry lab tools, and through novel dimensions, such as the evolving roles of kinship and gender and their relationship with social inequality.
By the end of the 3-year project, the METU team will have closed network gaps and accumulated precious knowhow in state-of-the-art archaeogenomics. As importantly, NEOMATRIX will create a collaborative environment for widening democratic networks among archaeogenomic labs in Europe, allowing local teams to produce excellent interdisciplinary science.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.4.b. - Twinning of research institutions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
CSA - Coordination and support action
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-WIDESPREAD-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
06800 Ankara
Türkiye
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.